Explanation:
Sunsets may be the
most watched celestial event,
but lately sunsets have even offered something
extra.
A sunspot so large it was visible to the naked eye is
captured in Swiss skies in this sunset scene from January 5,
crossing left to right near the center of a solar disk
dimmed
and distorted by Earth's dense atmosphere.
Detailed views reveal a large
solar active region composed of sunspots, some
larger than planet Earth itself.
Cataloged as active region AR 1944,
on January 7
it produced a substantial solar flare and a
coronal mass ejection (CME)
forecast to reach Earth.
The CME could trigger
geomagnetic storms and aurora on
January 9.